Ruby and I were enjoying our ice-cream down the pier.

A clever combination of a reminder that I wouldn't be able to participate in the up-coming tournament and my cutest puppy eyes was enough to make the entirety of team RWBY willing to buy me ice-cream.

Almost enterity actually, as Ruby was surprisingly resilient to the strategy. Not so surprisingly when she used her own puppy eyes to make me buy her some ice-cream.

Outrageous. I should be the only one allowed to use such a devastating weapon.

I couldn't resist at all.

We had passed by a vandalized shop before. The cops thought it was the White Fang, Ruby suggested it might be Roman Torchwick.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. A known thief was a bad thief. I wonder what got into him.

Meanwhile, Weiss and Blake were arguing about said White Fang. They were interrupted by shouts of a stowaway.

We turned to watch as a monkey faunus was running away from a bunch of sailors.

He didn't risk much if he was caught honestly. Faunuses were often refused passage on ships sailing between the Kingdoms and the one he jumped out of was obviously meant for long distance travels.

That systemic refusal meant finding faunus stowaways were a common occurence. Vale was pretty understanding and first offenders were usually sent away after only a few hours at the pretinct. They were then told to buy a ticket even if they had to hide themselves on the ship so police would know the ship was the one in the wrong.

So that guy was going to be fine.

Scratch that. He had just thrown a banana peel on a police officer.

Yeah, he was definitly going to jail for a few months at least now. If he was caught.

He ran past us with the officers on his tail. I just stood there with my ice-cream while Weiss, Blake and Yang ran to catch him.

Ruby had stayed too.

"We should follow them Neo." said Ruby.

I turned towards her, about to shrug, when I saw her puppy eyes again.

The damn puppy eyes.

I sighed in defeat and we walked in their general direction.

Finding them again wasn't hard, at least once I was the one asking for directions.

Yes, the irony wasn't lost on me.

Ruby had tried to ask by saying : " Hello, we're looking for a group chasing a monkey faunus, did you see them ? "

That was stupid. 'chasing' and 'faunus' were two words that, put together, raised plenty of red flags. Heck, even one of them alone would be enough to make people go away.

I had to stop her and ask myself, showing my scroll around.

We're looking for our friends, did you see white, black and yellow running somewhere ?

Easy peasy.

We found them near an alley, Weiss and Blake bickering again.

" Urgh, why are they arguing this time ? " asked Ruby.

I shrugged, and then a voice behind us answered :

" The faunus girl is apparently angry about statements miss Schnee made about faunuses."

Everyone froze and turned back in the direction of the voice.

It was a red-headed girl in a beige and gray dress with a bit of green sprinkled in.

" Hello, my name is Penny ! Who are you two ? " she said cheerfully.

" Uhm.. I'm Ruby, and this is Neo." answered Ruby. " Why did you say Blake is a faunus ? "

" Because she is ? " said Penny, confused.

" Huh ? " RWY said collectively. And I would have too if I could.

" Blake Belladonna, daughter of Ghira and Kali Belladonna, former leaders of the White Fang." she continued cheerfully. " I have records on all persons of interest."

At that, Blake went pale and ran. Weiss froze, her brain probably overloaded with the information, while Yang and Ruby mouths were gaping open.

My own mind was running at top speeds trying to process the bombshell.

The newcomer cocked her head and asked.

" What's wrong ? "